Sheet-tobacco press



llnrrnn @rares l Artnr @mirent SHEET-TOBACCO PRESS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. QPL-fl QQ, dated April2G, 1864.

To @ZZ whom it may concern/r Be it known that I, EDWARD Hommoox, Jr., ofLouisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, haveinvented a new and Improved Sheet-Tobacco Machine, and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part` of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is an end elevation of my improvedmachine.' Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3`is a verticalcentral section of same, the planev of sectiongbeing indicated by theline x x. Fig. 4 is a vertical section in the line y y. i

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in the severalfigures.

The objectlof this invention is to produce a machinein which stemmedleaf-tobacco may be rapidly and economically compressed into compactsheets of uniform thickness, these sheets being subsequently severedinto slabs and lumps by suitable cutting-machines.

To this end the invention consists in the employment of a press ofpeculiar construction, which may be operated by hydraulic or otherpower, and which is provided with movable,V walls to admit of the readyinsertion and removal ofthe tobacco, all as will be hereinafter fullyexplained.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertainsmay be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed todescribe its construction and operation. v

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the upper wall A A theadjustable side walls, and A2 the bottom, of a press, which is inclosedWithin a retainer, the various parts of which latter are represented bythe letters B B.`

C G represent right and left screws, which pass through the walls A A Aof the press, and which are employed in connection with a compoundcrank, D, by means of which the screws may be turned in such manner asto move the walls A A in opposite directions, thus increasing the spacebetween the latter and allowing the boards E E', with their charge oftobacco, to bepassed into the press without interception, which done,the crank D may be operated reversely, so as to cause the walls A toapproach each other until they come in contact with the said boards E E.The tobacco is arranged between these boards in a flat mass or body on afeeding-table that may be employed in connection with thecompressing-machine, and passed into the latter in one, two, or moreseparate quantities, each of which is to be compressed into a sheet, andthe boards E E are lubricated or moistened with proof-spirit oranalogous material, in

order to prevent the gummy matter of the tobacco from accumulatingthereon, and permit the tobacco to readily slide therefrom after havingbeen pressed into sheets.

The bottom A2 of the press constitutes a follower, the same being formedwith a projection or piston, A3, which enters a receiver, F, into whichlatter water or other liquid may be injected through a pipe, f, andaperture f. Liquid being introduced into the receiver F, the follower A2ascends with great force and compresses into compact sheets the tobacco,which is placed between the same and the upper wall, A. After thesuccessive sheets supplied to the press are acted upon in this way, theliquid in the receiver F may be allowed to pa-ss out at a suitablevalve, when the follower AZ falls to its lower position. This operationof elevating and loweringthe follower A2 may be performed as rapidlyasthe workman can supply the tobacco from the feedingtable.

G G represent friction-rolls, which are journaled in strong arms GG,secured to the platform AL.- Being thus situated,they are adapted torise simultaneously with the follower A2, and bear firmly against thewalls A, thereby constituting effectual braces for the latter.

u may-rep resent casters,which, when the fol` lower A2 is in its lowerposition, project above the same and permit theboards EF/,with theirrespective charges of tobacco, to be slid out of the press at theopposite side from that at which it is introduced therein. These castersoccupy cavities a in the follower A2, and are mounted upon spindles a',which pass loosely through corresponding apertures in the follower, andwhich rest upon the flanges A5 when said follower is in its lowerposition, so as to support the weight of the tobacco in the press, forthe purpose explained. Fach cavity c is sufficiently capacious tocontain or receive the y struction is that this medium is in generalmore available and less expensive than any other of an adequatecharacter;4 and an additional advantage is that the same liquid may berepeatcdly injected into the receiver F to elevate the platform At, s0that the machine may even be used Vat scarcely any expense in thisrespect, even though the liquid employed be expensive.

By preference l employ hydraulic powerto operate my improved press 5 butit is manifest that steam may be employed with the same result, so faras power is concerned; and it is also obvious that the press may beadapted for use in connection with any desirable mechanical power. i

The following may be mentioned among the advantages of my invention:First, tobaccosheets thus formed are of equal compactnessthroughout,which adapts them to remain in a continued state ofpreservation, whereas the cylindrical lumps into which the tobacco hashitherto been formed are continually liable to mold and decay inconsequence of the leaves being less closely united at the peripheryofthe lump than at the center, thus allowing the free penetration oftheair; second, sheets of tobacco formed byvmy improved process, being veryrm and compact, requirebut one wrapper,

and this may be applied with facility,whereas the cylindrical lumpsrequire two wrappersp which cannot be applied without considerable"labor; third, it does not require a skilled or experienced person toarrange the tobacco in the flat form described, preparatory to beingpressed into the sheets, whereas to form the cylindrical bodies itrequires a person who has been taught and who has had considerablepractice.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The movable walls A A', in combination with the upper wall, A, andfollower A2, arranged and operating in any manner, substantially asspecified,

2. The rolls G G, adapted to ascend with the follower A2 and brace thewalls A A', substan- 'tially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the follower 'A2 and receiver F,when employed inconnection with the press A A A', as and for the purpose explained.

4.. The right and left screws C C,en1ployed, in connection with thecrank D, to open and close the walls A A', asvdescribed.

5. In combination with the follower A2, the self-adj usting wheels orrollers ,arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose setforth. o

EDVARD HOLBROOK, JR. Vitnesses:

Oc'rAvUs KNIGHT, GHAs. T. DU Bois.

